Saturday, March 20, 2010

/Film Chris Evans offered Captain America? I like Evans but I hope his management doesn't take this as some sort of sign that they were right to ween him off of the beefcake. He did it so well. That'd be like asking Hollywood's young actresses not to maximize the power of their cleavage. That'd be wrong. It'd be positively un-American!Dear Jesus offers alternative Alice in Wonderlands she'd prefer to Tim Burton's.Just Jared Penélope Cruz's role in 4th Pirates of the Caribbean revealedi09 Enver Gjokaj (Dollhouse's MVP) is headlining a new web series he describes as "Twin Peaks Meets Clue" Two great tastes... but will they taste great together?Film Essent Uppity liberal Kym Voynar lets Mississipi have it for cancelling their prom. GO KYM! (Now, I realize she spells her name "Kim" but after Rachel Getting Married I'm just changing the spelling for everyone else now. You're welcome, Kym Basinger!).Guardian pokes fun at the Best Actress Oscar Curse. How should today's A-Listers avoid it?IFC Some people don't want to let Precious-bashing go. It's a handy way for them to feel superior to those who love it. But the blatant willingness to disregard any element of a movie that doesn't fit your critical thesis (in write-ups like this and those before it) only reminds me of the sick state of US politics. It's all spin.

bummer news (for me at least)...

Keith, Sunday and Nicole at some airport or another last week

I was all ready to roar back to the Nashville Film Festival next month (I'm on the New Directors jury) when I got the bad news. Nicole Kidman, who was a likely attendee, will not *sniffle* be there after all. I don't know which upcoming movie is likely to blame for stealing her away (the travel-heavy lives of the rich, famous and well employed you know) but it better be a Moulin Rouge! and not a Stepford Wives if I have to go without her. It's hard to tell with Kidman because she always has so many projects lined up and the line-up is never very stable (not that anybody's is in Hollywood with start dates always shifting and people always bolting for new offers). After the grief drama Rabbit Hole (which she's already wrapped) there's the romantic comedy Just Go With It but that one is already filming and I'm assuming her role is small or even a cameo. Based on plot descriptions, Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler appear to be the leads. They're pretending to be a couple -- Sandler enlists Aniston to help win him some other girl -- which means that they arethe real couple of the movie. You know how predictable rom-coms are. Somewhen during their charade, they'll realize that their pretend feelings are real!!! I'm sorry. I forgot to shout SPOILER. But you know as well as I do how these plots go.

That's a little misleading and I'm sure unintentionally offensive to say Mississippi cancelled "their" prom as if every school in the state would address this issue the same. Let's not be prejudiced against an entire state even though it is no doubt much less progressive relatively speaking.

Nathaniel I have seen comments that Kidman should have already filmed her part in the Sandler flick but there was no sightings or photos so perhaps it hasn't happened. Frankly whatever she's doing in it I want it to be a total surprise. Please media no Cruise-like cameo pics to ruin it for me.

Danish Girl is supposed to be next on her plate. Hallestrom is taking over from Alfredson. Start dates as varied as April, May and fall.

"Daniels uses Mo'Nique and Sidibe's weight to confirm their characters' ignorance, to disgust us, presenting them in unrelenting close-ups that make them look less like people than beasts growling at each other in a tightly confined space."

Uh, maybe that's about the author's issues with large black women, not the filmmakers.

I REALLY don't want Nicole to be in Just Go With It, but I REALLY REALLY REALLY want her to start filming The Danish Girl! It sounded so close to getting made, and then all of a sudden it disappeared off the radar and IMDB put it's status back to in development!

PLEASE NICOLE do the Danish Girl! I read the book and it will be an incredible film!

Now, wait a minute there, Nat. Let's not throw every criticism of Precious under the rug. Just because some of its detractors are totally back asswards doesn't mean the film itself does not have SERIOUS problems.

Nate, I love you but I've got a bone to pick - first thing this morning I have my cup of tea and turn on TFE and see the words "sad news" directly above a photo of the lovely Nicole and her family and for a tenth of a second I freak out "oh no has there been a plane crash?" DON'T DO THAT TO ME. Especially not where Nic is concerned.

robert -- i don't think the film is devoid of problems. But these totally rabidly hateful articles are always trying to paint people who love it with huge unflattering brushstrokes and it ends up just being an ugly mirror. Like what

@Rebecca... noticed. That passage stood out to me too. Like, uh, maybe you think of fat people are "beasts" Charles Taylor, but I don't. So stop saying I'm the one that has issues because I like the movie.

I simply cannot believe that someone has the nerve to hold up the one dimensional portraits of black characters that The Blind Side offers -- who are either saved or shamed by the rich white lady -- as preferable to the three dimensional portraits of the precious characters who are their own people for better and worse. I love how every article about Precious being a racist grotesque parade ignore every single scene that happens outside of the abusive home.

Janice -- that's why I put "at least for me" but i understand it reads wrong. I've adjusted it slightly.